Method of and machine for finishing seams



D. HALLBAUER METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR FINISHING SEAMS Feb. 16, 1937.

riled Aug. 14, 1955 om 4H Patented Feb. 16, 1937 METHOD 0F AND MACHINEFOR FINISH- ING SEAMS Dankmar I-liallbauer, Beverly, United ShoeMachinery Oor N. J., a corporation of New Mass.,

Jersey assigner to poration, Paterson,

Application August 14, 1935, Serial No. 36,176

13 Claims.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in methods of and machines foroperating upon shoe parts and is herein exemplified with reference tothe finishing of seam ridges of seamed sho-e parts.

It is customary, in the manufacture of shoes, to nish the seam known asthe back seam, which joins the parts of a quarter or lining made of twosections, as by pressing or rubbing it to reduce its height in order toavoid any ridge in the upper when it is lasted. The diniculty ofreducing such a seam evenly and without its being pressed exclusively toone side or the other presents a problem with which the inventiondisclosed in an application for Letters Patent of the United StatesSerial No. 20,615, led May 9, 1935, in the name of T. C. Rowen, isconcerned and in the solution of which it has been found desirable tocontrol the seam ridge laterally as its height is reduced.

It is a general object of this invention to eX- tend and make furtherapplication of the abovementioned principle in finishing seams, havingin view the desirability of not only effectively and evenly reducing theseam ridge but also, at the same time, forming portions of the upperpart contiguous to the seam into the shape they are to have in thefinished shoe.

The invention in one aspect relates to a machine comprising means forsupporting a seamed work-piece, said means having surfaces adapted toreceive the seam ridge between them and arranged to prevent lateraldisplacement of the ridge by engagement with its sides, pressing meansfor holding the work-piece against said supporting means, means referredto later as a seam-ridge-reducing member cooperating with said pressingmeans to apply pressure to the ridge heightwise thereof in increasingamounts to successive portions of it, and means for operating thepressing means to impart a feed movement to the work-piece.

In the illustrated construction, ,lateral displacement of the seam ridgeis prevented by providing a rotary Work support having opposed radialsurfaces between which the seam ridge is fed by a presser; andheightwise reduction of the ridge is effected as it passes between thepresser and a rotary seam-ridge-reducing member the effectivework-engaging surface of which progressively approaches that of thepresser, considered in the direction of feed movement of the work, sothat the seam ridge is crowded heightwise between the two last-namedmembers. In order still further to reduce the size of the seam ridge,

the opposed radial surfaces of the Work support, between which the seamridge is fed, converge, considered in the direction of feed movement ofthe work, toward the locality in which the seam ridge is being pressedheightwise so that progressively increasing pressure is appliedsimultaneously to successive portions of the seam ridge both heightwiseand widthwise.

In another aspect the invention relates to a method which mayconveniently be practised by the use of a machine, as herein disclosed,comprising holding the seam ridge against lateral displacement,preferably by app-lying progressively increasing pressure to successiveportions thereof, and reducing the seam ridge heightwise by applyingprogressively increasing pressure to said portions heightwise of theridge.

These and other features of the machine, in-

cluding certain details binations of parts, Will in an illust ofconstruction and combe described as embodied rative machine and pointedout in the appended claims.

Referring Fig. l is a view in perspec to the accompanying drawing,

tive of an illustrative machine embodying the invention, parts of theoperating tools being broken away and shown in section Fig. 2 is afragmentary view, partly in section. of the operating tools;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken along the line III-III of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is along the line IV-IV of piece being a fragmentary sectionalview taken Fig. 2, showing a workoperated upon.

The machine in which the invention is illustrated as embodied is adaptedto operate upon a seamed work-piece W having a seam ridge 1* extendingfrorn its normally concave surface as in the case of quarter. disturbedthe ridge of the back seam in a shoe To insure against the seam ri-dgebeing after having been pressed, it has been found desirable to avoidbending the work-piece after its seam has been pressed, which practiceresults from pressing the seams of work-pieces in a fiat orwrong-side-out condition forming them about a last.

work-piece machine, in substantially its curvature by supports l0 and l2and then Accordingly, the in the illustrated normal state `of W issupported,

transversely in accordance with the horizontal curvature of the heel endof trated in Fi g. 4, and having a peripheral curvaof the shoe.

The supports l!! and I2 have hubs I2 at portions adjacent to the I4 andI6 which are rotatably mounted in standards I8 and 25), respectively,arranged to extend upwardly from the base 22 of the machine frame. Asillustrated in Figs. Sand 4, the supports I and I2 are spaced 'toreceive the seam ridge T the sides of which are engaged by radialsurfaces 24, 24 of the supports and hence are prevented from beinglaterally displaced under the induence of pressure exerted heightwise ofthe seam ridge. Moreover, the axes of the hubs i4 and i6, about whichthe supports I8 and I2 rotate, are so angularly related in a planeindicated by the line III-I of Fig. 2 that the radial surfaces 24 of thesupports le and l2 converge in the direction of feed movement of thework and hence form a bite widthwise of the seam ridge.

The workpiece W receives a feed movement from and is pressed against thesupports i8 and seam ridge by a pressing member 26, the work-engagingsurface of ywhich is shaped in conformity to the transverse andperipheral contours of the supports Il) and l2. The pressing member 2Sis mounted upon studs 28 arranged to slide in a rocker 3l) to a limitedextent determined by nuts 32 at the upper ends of the studs 28. Thevpressing member 26 is caused yieldingly to press the workpiece Wagainst the supports lil and l2, after being moved into contact with thework-piece, as will be described later, by springs 34 which abut thepressing member 26, encircle the studs 28 and are seated in recesses inthe rocker Sil. The rocker 30 is pivotally mounted on a stud 36 carriedby a link 38, the latter being arranged to slide with respect to a blockes and to swing about the center of a screw 42 which is threaded intothe end of an overhanging arm 4e of the machine frame and which providesa support for the block 46. The link 38 receives a four-motion movementfrom a crank pin 46 extending from I a drive shaft 48 journaled in theuppermost portion of the arm 44. The shaft 48 may be driven by anyconvenient'means such as a pulley 5D. and belt 52 connecting the pulley5i) with a suitable source of power.

The pivotal connection between the link 38 and the rocker 3E! providedby the stud 36 permits the 'pressing member 26, after being movedintocontact with the work-piece W, to seat itself and to remain seated on'the work-piece throughout the period when the workpiece is pressednotwithstanding the swinging movement of the link 38. lThat is, as thelink 38 moves downwardly the right-hand end of the pressing member 26,as kviewed in Figs. 1 and 2, rst presses the workpiece against thesupports I0 and I2. There-` after, the pressing member 26 is swung aboutits right-hand end, Figs. 1 and 2, into complete contact with thework-piece, this movement being permitted by the pivotal connectionbetween the rocker 3Q and the klink 38 on the stud 36. Additionaldownward movement of the link 38 causes relative movement between therocker 3l) and the pressing member 26, compression of the springs34,\and hence the application of yielding pressure to the work-piece.Components o-f the movement of the link 38 exten-ding peripherally ofthe supports I0 and I2 from left to right (Figs. 1 and 2) cause thepressing member 26 to impart a feed movement to the step by step to thebite between the surfaces 24 of the supports I8 and I2 resulting fromtheir convergence. Finally, as the pressing member 26 is raised from thework a spring 54, received -'between pins 56 on the link 38 and clampedby work which is thus presented a screw 58 in a slot in the rocker 3i),gradually moves the rocker 3e and the pressing member 26 into a centralposition generally normal to` the longitudinal axis of the link 38.

While the seam ridge r is thus controlled and pressed widthwise betweenthe surfaces 24, 24, it is also reduced heightwise until it issubstantially continuous with the side of the work-piece from which itextends by the action of a reducing member 60 carried by a rotatingshaft 62, the latter being rotatably mounted in bearings one of which isformed in a standard 63 formed integral with the base 22 and the otherof which (not shown) is in the lower portion of the arm 44. The shaft 62is driven from the drive shaft 48 by connections comprising pulleys 64and 66 over which runs a belt 68. The reducing member 60 is housedwithin the supports I0 and I2, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, and hasa disk-like central portion 'I0 which is received between the surfaces24 of the supports Il! and I2 and the periphery of which convergestoward and becomes substantially continuous with the peripheral surfacesof the supports I8 and l2, thereby forming a bite with the work-engagingsurface of the pressing member 26 heightwise of the seam ridge when thepressing member holds the work-piece against the supports I0 and I2.

The reducing member 6!! is rotated at a speed such that its peripheralvelocity is substantially greater than the feed movement of theworkpiece, thereby to effect a burnishing or rubbing action on the seamridge, that this method of reducing a seam ridge minimizes the danger ofinsures a permanently pressed seam. The property of heat to shrink andset leather also is used to advantage in the illustrated machine owingto' the provision of a heated guide 12 having an electric heating unit'I4 and mounted in heat-exchange relation to the supports I0 and I2.Thus, the work-piece W, in being pressed into conformity to the shape ofthe supports I0 and I2 in their heated condition, receives a partial setwhile in this curved state which it tends to retain notwithstanding theflexing to which it is subjected in handling incidental to forming theupper about a last. The reducing member 6l! also is heated by radiationfrom the guide 12 and by virtue of its proximity to the heated supportsIIJ and I2. Substantial additional heating of the reducing member 60itself is obtained by its friotional engagement with the seam ridgefurther to insure adequate finishing of the seam ridge itself. The guide12 may be fixed to the base 22 by any convenient means, it beingdesirable to interpose therebetween a layer of heat insulation 16 toprevent undue loss of heat to the base 22. The upper surface of theguide 12 is grooved at 18 to receive the seam ridge of the work-pieceand is alined with the reducing member 60 and the surfaces 24, 24 of thesupports I0 and I2 to facilitate the proper register of the seam ridgewith respect to these parts of the machine. surface of the guide 12 isalso transversely rounded so as initially to shape the work-pieceWtransversely of the seam ridge substantially into the form in which'itis pressed by the pressing member 26.

While the operation of the machine will be readily understood from theforegoing, it will now be summarized briefly. The member 14 having beenheated to the desired temperature, the workpiece W is placed thereon,the seam ridge 1^ being received withinv the groove 18.

breaking the stitching and The upper The work-piece it having been foundis then moved into engagement with the supports IU, l2 beneath thepressing member 25, the latter being continuously moved in a generallyelliptical path. As the pressing member 2B approaches the supports HJ, IZ, certain components of its movement directed peripherally of thesupports l and I2 cause a feed movement to be imparted to the work-piecein the direction of the arrow, as illustrated in Fig. l, from the fronttoward the rear of the machine. Owing to the bite heightwise of the seamridge r formed by the reducing member 60 and the pressing member 25,pressure is imparted in increasing amounts to successive portions of theseam ridge as it passes underneath the pressing member 25; andsimultaneously the seam ridge, in being presented to the bite widthwiseof the ridge formed by the surfaces 24, 2d is prevented from beinglaterally displaced toward one side or the other and is uniformlyreduced across its entire width by the reducing member 60. Thus, theseam ridge 1- is reduced heightwise until it is substantially continuouswith the side of the work-piece from which it extends, insurance thatthe seam ridge will thus be treated being afforded by the action of thesurfaces 24, 24 of the supports lil, i2 which prevent the ridge at anytime from escaping the pressing action of the pressing member 25 and thereducing member S0. The effective reduction of the ridge is alsofurthered by the intermittent pressing action of the pressing member 25which, in being moved into and out of engagement with the work-piece Wrapidly, tends to beat the seam ridge against the reducing member 6U butwithout rupturing the stitching. The machine is thus arranged not onlyto press the seam ridge in the manner described above, but also to formportions of the work-piece W adjacent to the seam substantially into thecurved shape which they are to have in the finished shoe by the combinedaction of pressure and heat imparted to the workpiece when subjected tothe action of the pressing member 26 and the supports Il) and l2.

Having thus described my invention, what I y" claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a seam-finishing machine, work-supporting members spaced toreceive a seam ridge therebetween and arranged to prevent lateraldisplacement of the seam ridge, a pressing member for holding portionsof the work-piece adjacent to the seam ridge against said supportingmembers, a seam-ridge-reducing member cooperating with said pressingmember to apply pressure to the seam ridge heightwise thereof tosuccessive portions in progressively increasing amounts, and means foroperating said pressing member to impart a feed movement to theworkpiece.

2. In a seam-finishing machine; means for supporting a seamedWork-piece, said means having surfaces adapted to receive a seam ridgetherebetween and arranged to prevent lateral displacement of the ridgeby engagement with its sides, pressing means for holding the workpieceagainst said supporting means, means cooperating with said pressingmeans to apply pressure to the ridge heightwise thereof and inincreasing amounts to successive portions thereof, and means foroperating said pressing means to impart a feed movement to thework-piece.

3. In a seam-finishing machine, means for supporting a seamedWork-piece, said means having spaced surfaces adapted to receive theseam ridge therebetween and to prevent lateral displacement of theridge, a pressing member mounted and arranged to hold portions of theworkpiece adjacent to the seam ridge against said means, meanscooperating with said pressing member to form a bite heightwise of theseam ridge, and means for operating said pressing member to impart afeed movement to the work-piece toward said bite.

4. In a seam-nishing machine, means for supporting a seamed work-piece,said means having guiding surfaces spaced to receive the same ridgetherebetween and arranged to engage the sides ofthe seam ridge toprevent its lateral displacement, pressing means for holding thework-piece against said supporting means, means having aseam-ridge-engaging surface converging with the work-engaging surface ofsaid first-mentioned means, and means for operating said pressing meansto impart a feed movement to the workpiece.

5. In a seam-finishing machine, means for supporting a seamedWork-piece, said means having surfaces spaced to receive a seam ridgetherebetween and arranged to prevent lateral displacement of the seamridge, pressing means for holding the work-piece against said supportingmeans, a rotating seam-ridge-reducing member the periphery of whichconverges toward said pressing means, and means for operating saidpressing means while in engagement with the work-piece to impart a feedmovement thereto.

6. In a seam-finishing machine, rotatable suparranged to prevent lateraldisplacement of the seam ridge, pressing means constructed and arrangedto hold the work-piece against said supports and cooperating therewithto impart a feed movement to the work-piece, and means for reducing theheight of the seam ridge mounted for movement so that its ridgeengagingsurface progressively approaches the pressing means whereby the heightof the seam ridge is progressively reduced.

7. In a seam-finishing machine, rolls spaced to receive the ridge of aseamed work-piece therebetween and mounted to rotate about angularlyrelated axes, a pressing member, a rotating member mounted eccentricallywith respect to said rolls and cooperating with said pressing member toform a bite heightwise of the seam, and means for operating saidpressing member to hold the work-piece against the rolls and impart afeed movement to the work-piece.

8. In a seam-finishing machine, means for supporting a seamedWork-piece, said means having convergent surfaces spaced to receive aseam ridge therebetween and adapted to prevent lateral displacement ofthe seam ridge, a pressing member for holding the work-piece againstsaid means, a seam-ridge-reducing member cooperating with said pressingmember to form a bite heightwise of the seam, and means for operatingsaid pressing member to impart a feed movement to the work-piece towardsaid bite.

9. In a seam-finishing machine, means for supporting a seamedwork-piece, said means having peripheral surfaces arranged to engage thework at each side of the seam and radial surfaces arranged to preventlateral displacement of the seam ridge by engagement with the sidesthereof, a pressing member for holding the workpiece against theperipheral surfaces of said supporting means, a seam-ridge-reducingmember the surface of which converges toward the said 4 peripheralsurfaces of `said supporting means thereby to form a bite with saidpressing member, and means for operating said pressing member to impartafeed movement to the Work- Y piece.

1lir

Ysaid supporting members,

supporting members mounted at an angle to each other so as to form abite Widthwise of the ridge of a seam received therebetween, a pressingmember arranged to hold portions of the work-piece at each side of theseam ridge against the supporting members, and a. seam-ridge-reducingmember coperating with said pressing member to form a bite heightvviseofthe ridge,` said pressing member being operable to move the Work-piecetoward said bites simultaneously.

12. That improvement in methods of finishing the seam ridge of a seamedWork-piece which consists in holding the sides of the ridge againstlateral displacement, and reducing the ridge heightwise by applyingprogressively increasing pressure heightwise of the ridge to successivelaterally controlled portions of the ridge. v

13. That improvement in methods of finishing the seam ridge of a seamedWork-piece which consists in applying progressively increasing pressurelaterally of the seam ridge to successive portions thereof, and,simultaneously with thev application'of lateral pressure,applyingprogressively increasing pressure heightwise of the seam ridgeto the same successive portions.-

DANKMAR HALLBAUER.' f

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,070,726. February 16, 193'?.

DANKMAR HALLBAUER.

1T, is hereby certified that error appears n the printed specificationor the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3,Second column, line lO, claim 4, for *che word "same" read seam; andthat the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction thereinthat the same may conform to the record of the oase in the PatenrlOffice.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of March, A. D. 193'?.

` Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of PaemzsG

